U.S. patent application number 15/802324 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-01 for water cooled egr cooler.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Dong Young LEE, Do Jun PARK, Sung Il YOON, In Sung YUN.
Application Number | 20180313301 15/802324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63797062 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180313301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOON; Sung Il ; et
al. |
November 1, 2018 |
WATER COOLED EGR COOLER
Abstract
A water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler may
include tubes positioned within a housing at a predetermined
interval, which forms an exhaust gas passage that exhaust gas
passes therethrough, and a tube bonded portion that seals
internally and externally the tube is provided at a first side of
the tube; and supporters interpose the tubes to define a
predetermined interval between the tubes and positioned within the
housing wherein a coolant passage which a coolant flows between the
tubes is formed, wherein an external surface of a first side of the
supporter is bonded to an external surface of the tubes to form a
reinforcing bonded portion wherein the supporter covers and seals
the tube bonded portion.
Inventors: |
YOON; Sung Il; (Seoul,
KR) ; PARK; Do Jun; (Ulsan, KR) ; LEE; Dong
Young; (Goyang-si, KR) ; YUN; In Sung; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hyundai Motor Company
Kia Motors Corporation |
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
Kia Motors Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
63797062 |
Appl. No.: |
15/802324 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/013 20130101;
F28F 3/025 20130101; F02M 26/28 20160201; F28D 7/1692 20130101;
F02M 26/32 20160201; F02M 26/29 20160201 |
International
Class: |
F02M 26/32 20060101
F02M026/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2017 |
KR |
10-2017-0055565 |
Claims
1. A water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler apparatus,
comprising: a plurality of tubes disposed within a housing at a
predetermined interval, which forms an exhaust gas passage in which
exhaust gas passes therethrough, and a tube bonded portion that
internally and externally seals the tube is provided at a first
side thereof; and a plurality of supporters interposing the tubes
to define a predetermined interval between the tubes and disposed
within the housing wherein a coolant passage, in which a coolant
flows between the tubes, is formed, wherein an external surface of
a first side of the supporter is bonded to an external surface of
the tubes, forming a reinforcing bonded portion wherein the
supporter covers and seals the tube bonded portion.
2. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, further
including: a cooling pin disposed at an internal side of the tube
and being bonded to an internal surface of the tube.
3. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
cooling pin, the tube, and the supporter include aluminum.
4. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
supporter is formed by bending a sheet in a zig-zag shape, and flow
holes, which pass from a first surface to a second surface, are
disposed in the supporter at a predetermined interval.
5. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 4, wherein the
tube bonded portion is formed at a first side of the tube in a
longitudinal direction thereof, and a first side of the external
surface of the supporter contacts a surface of the tube along the
tube bonded portion to form the reinforcing bonded portion.
6. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
tube bonded portion is formed by facing incision surfaces of the
sheet and butt welding at a high frequency.
7. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing bonded portion is formed by brazing welding.
8. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
supporter includes: a first member extending in a width direction
of the tube, and disposed in a longitudinal direction of the tube
at a predetermined interval; and a second member integrally formed
with the first members, extending in the longitudinal direction of
the tube, and disposed in the width direction of the tube at a
predetermined interval.
9. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 8, wherein the
first member is bent in a zig-zag shape, and an external surface of
a first side of the first member supports an external surface of
the tube disposed at a first side thereof, and an external surface
of a second side of the first member supports an external surface
of the tube disposed at a second side of the tube, and the second
member is bonded to the tubes and forms the reinforcing bonded
portion wherein the second member covers the tube bonded portion at
the tubes disposed at a first side and a second side thereof.
10. The water-cooled EGR cooler apparatus of claim 1, wherein a
coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are formed in a longitudinal
direction of the housing at a predetermined interval, and a coolant
inlet pipe and a coolant outlet pipe are fixedly connected to the
coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, respectively.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2017-0055565, filed on Apr. 28, 2017, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a water-cooled EGR cooler
configured for cooling exhaust gas re-circulated from an exhaust
line to an intake line with a coolant therein. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a water-cooled EGR cooler
configured for decreasing corrosion of a bonded portion of a
plurality of tubes and improving a supporting structure using a
supporter located between the tubes.
Description of Related Art
[0003] In recent years, as environmental problems including global
warming emerge, regulations for exhaust gas have been tightened, in
particular, emissions of the exhaust gas of a vehicle have been
strictly controlled. Particularly, under the EURO-6 standard, in a
case of a diesel engine for a vehicle, a quantity of NO.sub.x
generated needs to be decreased to a level of 80 mg/km, and in the
present respect, automobile related companies have adopted new
technologies, including an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device,
a Lean NO.sub.x Trap (LNT) device, and a selective catalytic
reduction (SCR) device. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) device
includes a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (HP-EGR) device
which recirculates exhaust gas at a front end portion of a
catalyst, and a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation (LP-EGR)
device which recirculates exhaust gas at a rear end portion of the
catalyst. In the present case, to cool the recirculated exhaust
gas, an EGR cooler is disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation
line, and the EGR cooler includes a stainless material having a
high corrosion resistivity to a high temperature state and
condensate water. However, the EGR cooler including the stainless
material is heavy, has low heat transfer efficiency, has a poor
molding property, and the components are expensive.
[0004] Accordingly, research on the EGR cooler which has a high
heat transfer efficiency, has an excellent molding property,
includes aluminum, and of which components are relatively cheap has
been conducted. Typically, the present aluminum material EGR cooler
includes a cooling pin and tubes, A1100 which is based on pure
aluminum (A1xxx) and A3003 which is based on aluminum-manganese
(A3xxx) may be used in the cooling pin and tubes.
[0005] Meanwhile, a temperature of recirculated exhaust gas is
approximately 550.degree. C. and corrosive ions, including Cl--,
SO.sub.4.sup.2--, and NO.sub.3--, exist as an inclusion of
condensate water, wherein the aluminum-based cooling pin or tube
may be damaged in a high temperature environment and a corrosive
environment. In the present respect, research on an aluminum sheet
having a high strength and a high corrosion resistivity is
conducted. Particularly, a welding portion of the tube corrodes in
condensate water and the high temperature condition, and the
coolant leaks toward an interior of the tube, therefore, a
durability of the EGR cooler may deteriorate.
[0006] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the related art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing a water cooled EGR cooler, in which a combination
structure between a bonded portion of a tube and a supporter is
improved and corrosion of the bonded portion is decreased to
improve durability of the cooler, and an interval between the tubes
may be stably and uniformly maintained.
[0008] A water-cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
includes a plurality of tubes positioned within a housing at a
predetermined interval, which form an exhaust gas passage in which
exhaust gas passes therethrough, and a tube bonded portion that
internally and externally seals the tube is provided at a first
side; and a plurality of supporters located between the tubes to
define a predetermined interval between the tubes and positioned
within the housing wherein a coolant passage in which a coolant
flows between the tubes is formed, wherein an external surface of a
first side of the supporter is bonded to an external surface of the
tubes forming a reinforcing bonded portion wherein the supporter
covers and seals the tube bonded portion.
[0009] The water-cooled EGR cooler may further include a cooling
pin disposed at an internal side of the tube and bonded to an
internal surface of the tube. The cooling pin, the tube and the
supporter may include aluminum.
[0010] The supporter may be formed by bending a sheet in a zig-zag
shape, and flow holes, which pass from a first surface to a second
surface, may be positioned in the supporter at a predetermined
interval.
[0011] The tube bonded portion may be formed at the first side of
the tube in a longitudinal direction, and a first side of the
external surface of the supporter may contact the surface of the
tube along the tube bonded portion, forming the reinforcing bonded
portion. The tube bonded portion may be formed by facing incision
surfaces of the sheet and butt welding at a high frequency. The
reinforcing bonded portion may be formed by brazing welding.
[0012] The supporter may include a first member extending in a
width direction of the tube, and positioned in a longitudinal
direction of the tube at a predetermined interval; and a second
member integrally or monolithically formed with the first members,
extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and positioned
in the width direction of the tube at a predetermined interval. The
first member may be bent in a zig-zag shape, and an external
surface of a first side of the first member may support an external
surface of the tube disposed at the first side, and an external
surface of a second side of the first member may support an
external surface of the tube disposed at the second side, and the
second member may be bonded to the tubes and form the reinforcing
bonded portion wherein the second member covers the tube bonded
portion at the tubes disposed at the first side and the second
side.
[0013] A coolant inlet and a coolant outlet may be formed in a
longitudinal direction of the housing at a predetermined interval,
and a coolant inlet pipe and a coolant outlet pipe may be connected
to the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, respectively.
[0014] An engine according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may include the water-cooled EGR cooler. Also, a
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention may include the water-cooled EGR cooler.
[0015] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, in the tube including a sheet, the supporter is brazed
along the bonded portion of the tube to improve corrosive
resistance of a welded portion and the durability, and solve a
problem that occurs when the coolant is supplied to an intake of
the engine, therefore, operation stability of the engine may be
improved.
[0016] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an water-cooled EGR cooler
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cross-section of a
water-cooled EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a partially detailed cross-sectional view of a
water-cooled EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a supporter applied to a
water-cooled EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0021] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in portion by the intended application and use
environment.
[0022] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0024] In addition, the size and thickness of each configuration
shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for understanding and
ease of description, but the present invention is not limited
thereto, and the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc.,
are exaggerated for clarity. Also, the drawings and description are
configured to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not
restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements
throughout the specification. Discriminating the names of
components with the first, the second, etc. in the following
description is for discriminating them for the same relationship of
the components and the components are not limited to the order in
the following description.
[0025] Also, exhaust gas recirculation device may be appended as
EGR device or EGR.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an water-cooled EGR cooler
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, an EGR cooler 100 includes a housing
115, a mounting flange 110, and a `U`-shaped flange 105 as core
components.
[0028] A coolant inlet (IN) pipe, into which a coolant flows, is
connected to a first end portion at an upper side of the housing
115, and a coolant discharge (OUT) pipe, through which the coolant
is discharged, is connected to a second end portion at the upper
side of the housing 115.
[0029] The `U`-shaped flange 105 is mounted on the second end
surface of the housing 115, and the `U`-shaped flange 105 allows
communication between the upper portion and the lower portion of
the housing 115.
[0030] An exhaust gas supplied from an exhaust line through an
exhaust gas inlet 122 of the housing 115 flows to the upper side of
the housing 115, passes through the `U`-shaped flange 105, flows to
the lower side of the housing 115, and is coupled to an intake line
through an exhaust gas outlet 124.
[0031] Furthermore, the mounting flange 110 fixes the housing 115
to one side of an engine.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cross-section of the
water-cooled EGR cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, in the EGR cooler 100, a plurality of
tubes 200, cooling pins 210, and a plurality of supporters 220 are
internally disposed within the housing 115.
[0034] The tubes 200 have a thin thickness and a pipe shape having
a long width, and extend in a longitudinal direction in which
exhaust gas passes. Furthermore, the tubes 200 are positioned at a
predetermined interval.
[0035] The supporters 220 interpose the tubes 200. The supporters
220 maintain a predetermined interval between the tubes 200, and
form a path in which the coolant flows between the tubes 200.
[0036] Furthermore, the cooling pins 210 are internally disposed
within the tubes 200, and the cooling pins 210 are bent in a
zig-zag shape, and an external surface of the cooling pins 210 are
brazed and in contact with an internal surface of the tubes
200.
[0037] The tubes 200 have a structure wherein the coolant flows
into an external side of the tube 200, and the cooling pins 210
disposed at the internal side of the tubes 200 improve an
efficiency of heat transfer between the coolant and an EGR gas.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a partially detailed cross-sectional view of the
water-cooled EGR cooler according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, the water-cooled EGR cooler includes
the tubes 200, the cooling pin 210, the supporter 220, a tube
bonded portion 300, a reinforcing bonded portion 310, a coolant
passage 320, and an exhaust gas passage 330.
[0040] The exhaust gas passage 330 is formed within the tubes 200,
the coolant passage 320 is formed between the tubes 200, the
cooling pin 210 is internally disposed within the tubes 200, and
the supporter 220 is disposed between the tubes 200.
[0041] The tubes 200 may have sheets in which an incision surface
is formed at a first side edge portion and a second side edge
portion, and bent in a pipe shape and formed by butt welding.
Accordingly, the tube bonded portion 300 is formed at the tubes
200.
[0042] The tube bonded portion 300 may be continuously formed in a
longitudinal direction, formed by high frequency welding, and
formed by butt welding using a laser.
[0043] The tubes 200 may be positioned at a predetermined interval,
and the supporter 220 interpose the tubes 200. The supporters 220
maintain a predetermined interval between the tubes 200, and the
external surfaces of the supporters 200 and the tubes 200 are
brazed and bonded to each other. Here, the supporter 220 may be
formed by bending a sheet in a zig-zag shape.
[0044] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
external surface of a first side of the supporter 220 contacts the
external surface of the tube 200 along the tube bonded portion 300,
forming the reinforcing bonded portion 310.
[0045] The external surface of the first side of the supporter 220
is brazed and bonded to the external surface of the tube 200 to
form the reinforcing bonded portion 310 wherein the supporter 220
covers and seals the tube bonded portion 300.
[0046] Accordingly, the tube 200 is doubly sealed by the tube
bonded portion 300 bonded by high frequency welding and the
reinforcing bonded portion 310, therefore corrosive resistance may
be improved, and a phenomenon wherein the coolant flowing through
the coolant passage 320 leaks through the reinforcing bonded
portion 310 and the tube bonded portion 300 into the tube 200 may
be effectively prevented.
[0047] The cooling pin 210 is internally disposed within the tube
200, the cooling pin 210 is bent in a zig-zag shape, and an
external surface of the cooling pin 210 is brazed and contacts an
internal surface of the tube 200 to improve the efficiency of heat
transfer of the EGR gas.
[0048] FIG. 4 a perspective view of a supporter applied to a
water-cooled EGR cooler according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 4, the supporter 220 includes a first
member 302 and a second member 304.
[0050] The first member 302 extends in a width direction of the
tube 200, has a bent structure in a zig-zag shape, and is
positioned in a longitudinal direction of the tube 200 at a
predetermined interval.
[0051] The second member 304 extends in a longitudinal direction,
has a linear form, and is positioned in a width direction of the
tube 200 at a predetermined interval.
[0052] Furthermore, the first and second members 302 and 304 are
integrally or monolithically formed by a sheet. A flow hole 340 is
formed by the interval between the first and second members 302 and
304, and the flow hole 340 is positioned in a length and a width
directions at a predetermined interval.
[0053] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
first and second members 302 and 304 may form the flow hole 340 at
a predetermined interval and be integrally formed by presser.
[0054] Furthermore, the second member 304 is formed in which the
coolant flows and has a linear form to reduce a flow resistance of
the coolant.
[0055] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
tube bonded portion is formed by high frequency welding. The high
frequency welding is a welding method wherein current having a high
frequency passes through a welding object and generates heat. The
detailed description about the present method is referred to
well-known technology.
[0056] Furthermore, the brazing welding is one of bonding methods
of metallic or non-metallic material, in a base material having a
melting point of more than 450.degree. C., a bonded portion is
heated below the melting point, and the base material is not melted
and only filler metal is melted to bond the base material. The
detailed description about the present method is referred to
well-known technology.
[0057] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "up", "down",
"upwards", "downwards", "internal", "outer", "inside", "outside",
"inwardly", "outwardly", "internal", "external", "front", "rear",
"back", "forwards", and "backwards" are used to describe features
of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of
such features as displayed in the figures.
[0058] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the
invention and their practical application, to enable others skilled
in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, as well as various alternatives and
modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their
equivalents.
* * * * *